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( First posted in Portuguese, in March 2011, when J. was 5 years old) For my niece, Jessica Long ago when animals used to sp...

Thursday, 4 September 2014

Popcorn Piggy is in Love

For
my niece

who
is madly in love with

Pablo
Alboran, the Spanish singer

On the Green Valley farm, the animals are really
excited about the new rooster. And it is not surprising for Boran
the Rooster has indeed a powerful and enigmatic voice, which makes
the lassies heave in infatuation and the boys go green with envy. I
myself find his insistence on giving concerts at the break of dawn
quite annoying.

Moving on. Popcorn Piggy lives in the third sty from the stables.
For your information, a pigsty is a conveniently well-ventilated
place since the body odour excreted by this species is notoriously
peculiar. At the front of the sty there is always an inviting mud
puddle, where all the pigs spend most of the time wallowing in mire.
I do not find this habit at all fun or appealing: Just the other
day, some mud splashed onto my left wing and I barely managed to fly
down to the fountain to wash it out. However, pigs seem to have a
ball in it and the mud is actually good for them, helping to maintain
their skin youthful and rosy over time. At least that is what I
gather, as I have always had a hard time guessing how old they
actually are … Well, I can only guess their age from their size:
the larger they are the older, isn't that right?

And me? Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Paublabbery
the Parrot. I am the most well-travelled inhabitant of the farm and
I know everything that goes on around here.

.

It is only ten in the morning and Popcorn Piggy is once again
half-asleep. 'Popcorn Piggy, what's the matter with you lately? You
look sleepy all the time! Luckily, it's the summer holiday and there
is no school. Otherwise, you'd be in trouble: in that drowsy state
of mind you'd never be able to focus on your gruntphabet! Look ...'

'Ugh!' snorted Popcorn Piggy. 'Paublabbery the Parrot, you're the
one who wears we down when you talk so much and so fast. Do let me
rest!'

'Piggy Porphirio? Piggy Porphirio? Oh, why don't you just stop
rolling around in the mud like that and tell me something ... Do you
have any idea why your cousin has been so wistful and tired lately?'

'Well, g'day to you too, Paublabbery the Parrot.' said Piggy
Porphirio, feeling a bit irritated by the bird's apparent lack of
charm. Which cousin? There are so many of them.'

'Don't play dumb, Piggy Porphirio. Naturally, I'm talking about the
one who is always hanging around you … or you with her. Who
cares? Whether it's you who follows her or she you, you're just like
two Siamese twins joined at the hip ... '

'Really!?! Boran the Rooster?' shouted the parrot in a shrill voice.
'But, he's so much older than her!'

'Yeah, but she once confided in me that she's into older animals with
spiky crests.' whispered Piggy Porphirio.

'Squaaaaaawk! This is gold! Thank's a million Piggy Porphirio'
screeched Paublabbery the Parrot, by then flying towards the chicken
coop.

Before 6 o'clock the following morning, Popcorn Piggy was already up,
with her bangs stretched and her nails painted. She was ready to
listen to her dearest Rooster Boran. Little did she know that she
was about to live the most embarrassing but also the happiest moment
of her young life on the Green Valley farm.

'Huh-hum,'
started Boran the Rooster from the top of his perch, 'Today I want to
dedicate my first song, Solamente tú,
to a young fan .... Huh, sorry, … Paublabbery the Parrot, what's
the name of that little piglet again? ... Ah, yes, then this one is
especially for you, Popcorn Piggy, you in the third sty from the
stables, ... Solamente Tú.

Popcorn Piggy's heart stopped beating for a few seconds. No, this
could not be happening to her. These things do not happen to her.
All that happiness that filled her being! What a thrill!

Thankfully it was still a bit dark outside, otherwise the others
would have a field day if they saw how she turned from pink to bright
red.

.

When Paublabbery the Parrot reached the pigsty, she found Popcorn
Piggy muttering something to herself. For once silent, but only out
of interest, Paublabbery the Parrot tilted her head to the left so
as to hear better.

'...cornboran, 'is all that Parrot Paulradora managed to hear.

'... Cornboran?!? What on earth is she on about?' muttered Parrot
Paulradora to herself.

'Popcorn Boran. Popcorn Boran. Popcorn Piggy Boran. Oooooh! This
name is music to my ears,' said Popcorn Piggy, unaware that she was
being observed.

'Squawk!' Paublabbery the Parrot let out a gasp of laughter.

'Gosh! You frightened me half to death, you idiot!' cried Popcorn
Piggy, with a tremble in her voice.

'Ha, ha ... You said Popcorn Piggy Boran, yes you did! I heard you
loud and clear!

'Shush! Pleaaaaaase Paublabbery the Parrot, please don't tell anyone
about this. I was just daydreaming. If the others find out about
this I 'll never hear the end of it.'

'Chill out, Popcorn Piggy' said Paublabbery the Parrot quickly,
realising that her friend from the Green Valley farm was really
distressed. 'I won't say a word … So, did you like the surprise?

'Oh, Paublabbery the Parrot, it was fantastic. I never thought it
would be possible to feel like this, to live such a happy moment in
my life. Ever! Thank y...'

'Yes,
it was very nice and kind of him. With so many fans and he accepted
to sing for me!
What joy! But you were also very nice, Paublabbery the Parrot …
' And giving the parrot a gentle nudge on the chest, she proceeded,
'You're a good friend. Thank you.'

- Jessica (now 10)

1Solamente tú, song
by Pablo Alboran.

- COPYRIGHT/Registado no IGAC

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About me:

Born in Mozambique, she grew up in South Africa and has travelled widely, both as a student and a teacher of English as a Foreign Language.
Nasceu em Moçambique, cresceu na África do Sul e tem viajado extensamente, tanto como estudante como professora de Inglês como língua estrangeira.